‘Go Back’ Chants, Black Flags Shown to Dhankhar at Jadavpur Univ

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was shown black flags on Monday, 23 December, by students at Jadavpur University where he went to attend a meeting as its chancellor. Meanwhile, Calcutta High Court directed the state government to suspend any campaigns related to CAA on the same day.

The students surrounded his car and shouted slogans, with placards ‘BJP Activist Mr Dhankhar Go Back.’

Amid the fracas, Dhankhar was stuck for around 45 minutes after which he was escorted to the court meeting venue by security men.

Dhankhar had tweeted about the meeting earlier.

As Chancellor would be presiding the 10th Meeting of the 9th Court of the Jadavpur University scheduled to be held on Monday, the 23rd of December,2019 at 200 p.m. in the Committee Room No. I of the University. pic.twitter.com/ABfAFuppIV

— Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) December 22, 2019

Shortly after Dhankar tweeted:

Was at Jadavpur University for two hours. Had interaction with agitated students on various issues and indicated that am keen to connect with them further at Raj Bhawan. The Jadavpur University Court meeting could not be held and instructed C to have iat Raj Bhawan this evening.

— Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) December 23, 2019

The State administration was not at all responsive as regards my visit to Jadavpur University.

— Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) December 23, 2019

Guv ‘Making Unwarranted Interference’

The varsity earlier cancelled the special convocation where Dhankhar was supposed to confer D.Litt and D.Sc to some eminent people. It was scheduled on 24 December.

The JU authorities said that it will instead hold a simple ceremony in which only students will be awarded degrees and certificates.

The Left students’ unions said the governor was making “unwarranted interference into the autonomy of the institute.”

‘Suspend CAA Related Media Campaigns’: HC

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal government on Monday to suspend all media campaigns related to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

A division bench of Chief Justice TBN Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee directed the state government to suspend the campaigns on CAA till the court gives its final orders.

The court also sought a detailed response from the state government about the petitioners’ claim that the campaign against the CAA was carried out using public money.

The bench, which has been hearing petitions on issues like the state's campaign against the CAA in various forms of media, breakdown of law and order situation and damage to railway property, said the matter will be heard next on 9 January.

Advocate General Kishore Dutta submitted before the court that the law and order situation in the state is under control and that suspension of internet services has been revoked.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)